Characterization of Peanut stunt virus Isolated from Black Locust Tree (Robinia pseudo-acacia L.)

An isolate of Peanut stunt virus (PSV) isolated from black locust tree (Robinia pseudo-acacia L.) showing severe mosaic and malformation symptoms, was designated as PSV-Rp. PSV-Rp was characterized by the tests of host range, physical properties, RNA and coat protein composition and RT-PCR analysis. Nucleotide sequences of the cucumoviruses CP genes were also used for identification and differentiation of PSV-Rp. Six plant species were used in the host range test of PSV-Rp. PSV-Rp could be differentiated from each Cucumovirus strain used as a control by symptoms of the plants. The physical properties of PSV-Rp virus were TIP $65^{\circ}C$, DEP $10^{-3}$, and LIP $2{\sim}3$ days. In dsRNA analysis, PSV-Rp consisted of four dsRNAs, but satellite RNA was not detected. Analysis of the coat proteins by SDS-PAGE showed one major protein band of about 31 kDa. RT-PCR using a part of Cucumovirus RNA3 specific primer amplified ${\sim}950bp$ DNA fragments from the crude sap of virus-infected black locust leaves. RFLP analysis of the RT-PCR product could differential PSV-RP from CMV The nucleotide sequence identity between the PSV-Rp CP and the TAV-P CP genes and the PS-V-RP CP and CMV-Y CP genes were 61.6% and 40.5%, respectively. On the other hand, the nucleotide sequence identity of the PSV-Rp CP gene was $70.9%{\sim}73.4%$ in comparison with those of PSV subgroup I (PSV-ER and PSV-J) and 67.3% with that of PSV subgroup II(PSV-W). Especially, the nucleotide sequence identity of PSV-Rp CP gene and that of PSV-Mi that was proposed recently as the type member of a novel PSV subgroup III was 92.4%.